Clay Cole's SH-BOOM! is the pop culture chronicle of that exciting time, 1953-1968, when teenagers created their own music, from swing bands and pop to rhythm and blues, cover records, a cappella, rockabilly, folk-rock, and girl groups; from the British Invasion to the creation of the American Boy Band. He was first to introduce Chubby Checker performing the "Twist;" the first to present the Rolling Stones, Tony Orlando, Dionne Warwick, Neil Diamond, Bobby Vinton, the Rascals, Ronettes, Four Seasons, Dion, and dozens more; the first to introduce music video clips, discotheque, go-go girls and young unknown standup comedians Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Fannie Flagg to a teenage television audience.

The Heart of the Order (Paperback)

Have you ever wondered how different your life might have been if you had taken advantage of a particular opportunity that was presented to you? Or how differently your life would have turned out had you been daring and went against all the conventional rules? Angelo Saverino was about to find out the hard way when as a 30-something he suddenly found himself thrust into the world of professional sports. Saverino dedicated a chapter in this book to the time when he worked at Palisades Amusement Park, of the people, the events and how much the Park owner, Irving Rosenthal, influenced his business decisions.

There's More to New Jersey than the Sopranos (Paperback)

In this lively romp through history from the primitive past to the present day, Marc Mappen's message resonates—There's More to New Jersey than the Sopranos. Real tales, wise tales, tall tales abound throughout the pages of Mappen's collection, filled with zest, humor, scandal, and occasionally tragedy. Providing a lens into American history through lively prose and more than twenty-five illustrations, this book is as much fun as a trip to the Jersey Shore and definitely more rewarding than a night home watching television— simply stated, this book is one you can't refuse to read.

America's Top Roller Coasters
and Amusement Parks

So what's it like to ride the best roller coaster in the country? Roller coaster enthusiast Pete Trabucco, a pilot and freelance writer, has ridden hundreds of top roller coasters around the nation. Pete takes the reader behind the scenes and presents a free e-ticket ride to the best amusement parks and roller coasters on the planet. With over 300 top roller coasters ridden around the country, he has a story to tell.

Something in the Air: Radio, Rock, and the Revolution That Shaped a Generation (Hardcover)

Washington Post columnist Fisher traces the evolution of radio from the 1950s, when the spread and popularity of television made it almost extinct, to its rise to become 'the sound track of American life' and 'the mere act of listening made you feel like a part of a secret society.' Built around narratives compiled from nearly 100 interviews, Fisher knits together a compelling story detailing how radio helped penetrate race barriers, created a 'shared pop culture' and was the 'birthing room of the counterculture.' Fisher shows readers how the personalities of radio shaped our popular culture, from visionaries like marketing genius Todd Storz to radio artists Cousin Brucie of New York and Jean Shepherd, who was a precursor to Garrison Keillor and Ira Glass.

Let Me Whisper In Your Ear

Mary Jane Clark

Laura Walsh is a news reporter who's looking to move up to a producer's job on "Hourglass," a "60 Minutes" type show. Walsh is pitching the story of a thirty-year-old unsolved disappearance, now death, at Palisades Amusement Park, where her alcoholic father worked as a young man. This book is a gripping thriller set around the classic NJ amusement park.

Smile: A Pictorial History of Olympic Park by Alan A. Siegel

In Smile, Alan A. Siegel chronicles the evolution of Olympic Park from a den of hedonism and intoxication in the 1880s into Essex County's most popular family entertainment site in the 1950s and 1960s. Under the fifty-year reign of Newark brewer Henry A. Guenther, millions of men, women, and children passed under the signs "Smile" and "Learn to Play" into what the legendary beer baron called "a little bit of Coney Island, the circus, an old-fashioned beer garden, and Monte Carlo rolled into one". Olympic Park will forever reside in the memories of many as a towering monument on the cultural landscape of New Jersey in a simpler, more innocent, and less affluent time.

Coney Island Postcards: The People's Playground

Luna Park, the Boardwalk, Deno’s Wonder Wheel: 16 vintage images capture Coney Island, the iconic New York amusement park, in its heyday. Each of our playful postcards contains a wistful or wacky historical fun fact about the park and its attractions. 32 cards in a Velcro-closure envelope, 16 images, 5-3/4 x 3-7/8 inches

The American Roller Coaster

Scott Rutherford

From the tame coasters of the mid-19th century to today's twisted monsters of steel and wooden retro designs, this complete history rattles through all the ups and downs of coaster lore.

The Carousel Keepers

Carrie Papa

The Carousel Keepers is a book for all who enjoyed the experiences of watching, hearing, and riding the wooden carousel during the golden age of American amusement history - and for those who continue to appreciate the carousel, or merry-go-round, as a very special element of the American cultural landscape.

Amusing The Millions

John F. Casson

Amusing the Million examines the historical context in which Coney Island made its reputation as an amusement park and shows how America's changing social and economic conditions formed the basis of a new mass culture.

Coney Island: The People's Playground

The People's Playground is the first new history of Coney Island in almost half a century, tracing its evolution and cultural impact from its earliest development as a seaside resort to the present day Mermaid Parade. Presented in a photo-documentary format featuring more than one hundred vintage photos, archival material, personal accounts, and contemporary sources, the book evokes the atmosphere of the resort as experienced by those who visited it during its heyday. Through the reminiscences of nineteenth- and twentieth-century writers, literary figures, and amusement historians, Michael Immerso traces Coney Island's remarkable evolution and subsequent decline, while at the same time examining the remarkable individuals and complex social forces that contributed to its rise and fall.

New York World's Fair 1964-65, Coney Island, and More

This collection of short films is a fascinating glance at worlds of fun and amusement from the youth of the baby boomer generation. The famous New York World's Fair is seen in its planning stages, including the construction of the landmark stainless steel Unisphere. The film -To The Fair!- then treats us to the fair in all its glory, complete with fabulous visions of the future, and promises of wonders to come. It's the World of Tomorrow, 1960s style! Then its on to Coney Island, the premier amusement park of New York in its heyday. Famous for the hot dogs, beach, boardwalk, Wonder Wheel, Cyclone,freak shows, and Steeplechase Park, generations have had the time of their lives at Coney. All in all, this DVD is a fun, historic, and entertaining collection of amusements from great times in America and not to be missed!

Great Old Amusement Parks

On a Hot Summer day, there may be no better place on earth than a traditional amusement park. A place where you can hop on a classic wooden coaster, reach for the ring as you whirl by on the merry-go-round, or cool down on the Caterpillar. In this documentary, you get to visit some of America’s most charming parks from Lake Compounce in Connecticut to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California. You get to gallop on the Derby Racer at Playland, go with the flow on the Boat Chute at Lake Winnepesaukah, and rock on Deno’s Wonder Wheel at Coney Island. And of course there are coasters, including the Thunderbolt at Kennywood, the Cyclone at Astroland, the Raven at Holiday World, and San Diego’s Giant Dipper!